Prada has opened its first store in Nanning, China, in the prestigious Mixc Mall. The luxury store, designed by architect Roberto Baciocchi, the 53 meter long louvered facade structure pays public homage to Franco-Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, one of the leaders of the kinetic art movement. Cruz-Diez’s work with illusory art established a language of sculptural expression that manifests in the storefront’s vertical golden-colored polished steel-paneled architrave.

The dynamic gradient is met with a black marquina marble-clad base; wide light boxes with Prada’s latest campaign images are interspersed between the onyx-colored glossy panels. The store covers a total surface of about 700 square meters on a single level, and offers the full spectrum of merchandise: mens and womenwear, leather goods, accessories and footwear collections.

The open plan interior presents a slew of emblematic details. The room displaying women’s bags and accessories is characterized by crystal and polished steel furniture and the Prada-classic black and white checkered marble floor. Elegant niches are carved out from the black marble walls, presenting small leather goods, while the bright red and green colors of Saffiano leather embellish the gleaming display counters.

Diffused-lit rooms clad in green fabric offer womenswear and shoes among plush velvet sofas and cream-colored carpet. Menswear rooms offer a rich, elegant atmosphere described by long grain ebony wood floors and polished crystal-and-steel display cases.

http://www.designboom.com/design/prada-opens-its-first-store-in-nanning-china/